Louisiana
Louisiana mayor who recently resigned now faces child sex crime charges
After resigning as mayor of a southwest Louisiana town, a 42-year-old woman is now facing charges of rape and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile.
Misty Clanton Roberts, the former mayor of DeRidder, Louisiana, turned herself in on Thursday and was booked and charged with third-degree rape and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, according to the Louisiana State Police.
Last week, on July 26, the Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office had requested the department’s special victims unit investigate a complaint against Roberts for allegations of sexual relations with a juvenile, police said.
Police said investigators interviewed two juveniles, one who said they were the victim, who told the investigators Roberts had sexual intercourse with the juvenile victim while employed as mayor.
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Investigators got an arrest warrant for Roberts from the Beauregard Parish 36th Judicial District Court and subsequently Roberts surrendered to police. She was released on a $75,000 bond, reported KPLC, a Lake Charles, Louisiana NBC affiliate.
The arrest came less than a week after Roberts resigned as mayor of DeRidder, a southwest Louisiana town of nearly 10,000 residents. On July 25, Roberts told city officials she would be out of the office for two weeks and appointed Fire Chief Ken Harlow as acting mayor while she was gone, the American Press, a Lake Charles, Louisiana news outlet, reported. She resigned two days later on July 27.
Roberts’ attorney Adam Johnson said his client is innocent in a statement to KPLC. “She has not been charged with a crime and/or convicted of any crime,” he said in the statement. “And we trust the public will respect her constitutional presumption of innocence which is fundamental to our system of justice. Misty and her family are very grateful for the support they have received from their friends and neighbors and we look forward to putting this unfortunate situation behind them.”
Elected in 2018, Roberts, an independent, became the first woman to become DeRidder’s mayor, The Associated Press reported. She won reelection in 2022.
A graduate of DeRidder High School in 2000, Roberts earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mass communications from McNeese State University in 2004, CBS News reported. Before becoming mayor, she was the city’s director of community service for nine years.
Follow Mike Snider on X and Threads: @mikesnider & mikegsnider.
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Yasin Gungor
19 April 2026•Update: 19 April 2026
At least eight children were killed and two others were wounded in a shooting in the US state of Louisiana, local police said Sunday.
Shreveport Police Department spokesperson Christopher Bordelon said officers responded to the shooting just after 6 am (1100GMT), following a domestic disturbance call.
The age of the deceased ranged from one to 14 years, he said, adding that the incident involved at least 10 individuals across four separate locations.
The suspect attempted to flee by carjacking a vehicle and driving to neighboring Bossier City, where police located and shot him dead.
Bordelon said Shreveport police officers pursued the suspect’s vehicle into Bossier, where three officers discharged their firearms, killing him. He said investigators believe the suspect was the only person who opened fire at the locations.
Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux described the attack as “maybe the worst tragic situation we’ve ever had,” adding: “It’s a terrible morning.”
No immediate information was available about the condition of the injured.
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When it comes to retiring, the best places to do so often are affordable, have a high quality of life and access to quality healthcare.
If you’re looking for a place to retire, Niche has identified the best places for retirees in Louisiana.
In its list, Niche has taken into account factors like weather, crime rates, housing costs and access to amenities.
The 5 best places to retire in Louisiana according to Niche
These are the top five best places to retire in Louisiana, according to Niche.
1. Oak Hills Place
Oak Hills Place is a suburb of Baton Rouge and is the overall best place to retire in Louisiana. This suburb, located in East Baton Rouge Parish, has a population of 9,038 and offers residents an urban suburban mix feel. The area is highly rated for families, diversity, as well as health and fitness. Here, the median home value is $437,900 and the median rent is $1,422, according to Niche.
2. Westminster
Westminster is another suburb of Baton Rouge and is the second-best place to retire in Louisiana. Located in East Baton Rouge Parish, this suburb has a population of 2,559 and offers residents an urban suburban mix feel. This area is highly rated for nightlife, diversity, families, health and fitness, as well as commute. The median home value here is $266,100 and the median rent is $1,482, says Niche.
3. River Ridge
River Ridge is a suburb of New Orleans, located in Jefferson Parish, and is the third-best place to retire in Louisiana. This suburb has a population of 13,312 and offers residents a dense suburban feel. The area is highly rated for public schools, family, nightlife and diversity. The median home value is $357,400 and the median rent is $1,127, according to Niche.
4. Westlake
Westlake is a town in Calcasieu Parish that is among the best places to retire in Louisiana. With a population of 4,743, this town offers residents a rural feel. The town is highly rated for public schools, housing, families, jobs, cost of living, nightlife and weather. Here, the median home value is $166,100 and the median rent is $1,049, says Niche.
5. Prien
Prien is another town in Calcasieu Parish that is among the best places to retire in Louisiana. This town has a population of 7,119 and offers residents a suburban rural mix feel. The town is highly rated for public schools, housing, families, nightlife and weather. The median home value here is $278,000 and the median rent is $1,292, according to Niche.
Presley Bo Tyler is the Louisiana Deep South Connect Team reporter for USA Today Network. Find her on X @PresleyTyler02 and email at PTyler@Gannett.com
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